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Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit

Chapter VII · Let Loose

Cover illustration for Little Dorrit
Context Illustration Reading 1/83 · 5 lines
English subtitles · tap any word to listen 1 / 5
A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.
The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.
The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.
On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.
One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.
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AI-generated narration by OpenAI · Slow US English
LEARNER DICTIONARY
Archivist
/ˈɑːrkɪvɪst/
Editorial verification pending

A keeper or guardian of historical records and memories.

Little Dorrit

Chapter VII · Let Loose

Reading 1/83 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5

Line 1
A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.
Line 2
The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.
Line 3
The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.
Line 4
On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.
Line 5
One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

Learner Dictionary

Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.

About preposition US /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.”

Against preposition US /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading “The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.”

Half noun US /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.”

Here noun US /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.”

Little noun US /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.”

Long noun US /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading “The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.”

One pronoun US /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.”

Over preposition US /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading “The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.”

Towards preposition US /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading “One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.”

Upon preposition US /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.”

All words in this reading · 78

Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.

AdeterminerUS /ə/

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

afraid

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

againstprepositionUS /əˈɡenst/

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

andconjunctionUS /ənd/

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

asconjunctionUS /æz/

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

autumn

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

banks

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

byprepositionUS /baɪ/

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

Chalons

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

closing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

clouds

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

country

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

curious

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

darkening

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

deepened

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.

depressing

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.

dull

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

expanse

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

fast

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.

figure

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

flat

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

gloomy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

halfnounUS /half/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

heavily

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

heavy

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

herenounUS /here/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

ifconjunctionUS /ɪf/

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

inprepositionUS /ɪn/

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

itpronounUS /ɪt/

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.

landscape

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

late

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

lay

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

leaned

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

like

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

littlenounUS /little/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

longnounUS /long/

an important story-specific word used in this passage

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

looking-glass

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

low

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

made

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

man

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

moving

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

night

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

occasionally

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

ofprepositionUS /ʌv/

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

OnprepositionUS /ɑːn/

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.

OnepronounUS /wʌn/

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

only

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/

above and across; more than

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

pictures

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

place

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

poplar

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

ragged

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

reflected

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

river

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

row

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

Saone

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

see

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

slowly

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

solitary

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.

streak

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

stream

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

sullied

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

sunset

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

thedeterminerUS /ðə/

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

theirdeterminerUS /ðer/

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

there

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

theypronounUS /ðeɪ/

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

toparticleUS /tuː/

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

towardsprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrdz/

in the direction of

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

trees

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.

uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

visible

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading One man slowly moving on towards Chalons was the only visible figure in the landscape.

wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading A late, dull autumn night was closing in upon the river Saone.

water

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The stream, like a sullied looking-glass in a gloomy place, reflected the clouds heavily; and the low banks leaned over here and there, as if they were half curious, and half afraid, to see their darkening pictures in the water.

wet

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading On the banks of the river Saone it was wet, depressing, solitary; and the night deepened fast.

wrathful

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The flat expanse of country about Chalons lay a long heavy streak, occasionally made a little ragged by a row of poplar trees against the wrathful sunset.